TV and theatre actress Delnaaz Irani shared a close bond with 77-year-old actor Dinyar Contractor who passed away on Wednesday morning at a private hospital where he was under treatment for age-related ailments for nearly four weeks. Delnaaz who was recently seen in shows like Ek Deewaana Tha and Partners Trouble Ho Gayi Double says Contractor had always been a jovial person and would smile every time someone visited him at the hospital despite being severely ill.

"His organs had started failing, but the best thing was that his brain was functioning and every time someone visited him at the hospital, he would smile at them and respond. He had always been a jovial person. A while ago he had undergone surgeries for his knee and back and was recuperating, but the last month was bad," Delnaaz told Mumbai Mirror.

The actress used to fondly call him Dinshu and gives a huge share of credit for her success to him.

"He taught me everything about theatre and acting. In 2017, I was doing a Gujarati play called Powerfool Couple and he loved it so much, he wanted to be a part of it. So, he bought the rights to a few shows of the play and we added a character to it. It was a riot to be on stage with him. I was a part of all his English plays. He was my teacher, my godfather," Delnaaz told the tabloid.

Delnaaz took to social media to post a heartwarming condolence message for her mentor-uncle.

"The man who showed me the world of theatre. My teacher, my mentor and above all my dear uncle Dinsu! It’s hard to forget someone who gave you so much to remember. You will forever be in our memories," she wrote.

Dinyar Contractor started his acting career while he was still studying in a school, in 1966. Initially, he was seen on television programmes with the legendary Adi Marzban when Mumbai Doordarshan launched the DD-2 channel in Mumbai with Aavo Maari Saathe, a Gujarati programme. Later he worked in serials like Khichdi, Tarak Mehta Ka Ulta Chashmah and Do Aur Do Paanch. He was awarded the Padma Shri in January 2019.

Some of the prominent films in which he acted were Baazigar, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, Khiladi and 36 China Town.